Multi-functional dongle for a portable terminal

Abstract

Provided is a dongle that is connected to a portable terminal for providing a mobile banking transaction service with a banking equipment that includes a banking transaction unit for providing a mobile banking transaction service with a banking equipment; an FM transmitter for outputting a sound source played in a portable terminal through a speaker of an external FM receiver; a charger for receiving an external voltage to charge the portable terminal; and a connector to be connected to the portable terminal simultaneously or individually in order to perform functions of the banking transaction unit, the FM transmitter, and the charger. The banking transaction related components are implemented with a single separate device, i.e., dongle, and can be mounted when necessary. Therefore, a separate banking related module (software and/or hardware) is unnecessary, thereby slimming the portable terminal. In addition, the convenience of the banking transaction is improved because the dongle can be applied to general terminals having a minimum software specification.

1 . A multi-functional dongle being connected to a portable terminal for providing a mobile banking transaction service with a banking equipment, the multi-functional dongle comprising: 
 a connector to be electrically connected to the portable terminal;    a wireless communication module installed in the dongle for communicating with the banking equipment; and    a slot port installed inside the dongle such that a banking chip is selectively attachable thereto.    
   
   
       2 . The multi-functional dongle of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication module comprises at least one of a closed-loop antenna radiator, a Bluetooth antenna radiator, and an infrared transmitter/receiver.  
   
   
       3 . The multi-functional dongle of  claim 1 , wherein the connector comprises one of an InterFace (IF) connector to be connected to an IF connector port of the portable terminal, an ear-microphone connector to be connected to an ear-microphone connector port of the portable terminal, and a connector to be connected to a separate port for an additional function.  
   
   
       4 . The multi-functional dongle of  claim 1 , further comprising a cover for protecting the connector.  
   
   
       5 . A multi-functional dongle being connected to a portable terminal for providing a mobile banking transaction service with a banking equipment, the multi-functional dongle comprising: 
 a processor for controlling a mobile banking transaction with the banking equipment according to a user's request;    a memory for storing information about the mobile banking transaction conducted by the processor and a corresponding application program;    a communication module for performing a wireless communication with the banking equipment for the banking transaction;    a banking chip driver for providing an interface with a banking chip selectively installed for providing personal authentication and recent banking transaction history to the processor according to a request of the processor; and    a connector electrically connected to the portable terminal for conducting a corresponding banking transaction.    
   
   
       6 . The multi-functional dongle of  claim 5 , wherein the communication module comprises at least one of a closed-loop antenna radiator, a Bluetooth antenna radiator, and an infrared transmitter/receiver.  
   
   
       7 . The multi-functional dongle of  claim 5 , wherein the connector comprises one of an InterFace (IF) connector to be connected to an IF connector port of the portable terminal, an ear-microphone connector to be connected to an ear-microphone connector port of the portable terminal, and a connector to be connected to a separate port for an additional function.  
   
   
       8 . The multi-functional dongle of  claim 5 , further comprising a cover for protecting the connector.  
   
   
       9 . The multi-functional dongle of  claim 5 , wherein when the portable terminal is connected to the dongle, the processor transmits to the portable terminal the banking transaction history to be displayed, receives a request based on a user's key input and transmits the received request to the banking equipment through the communication module.  
   
   
       10 . A multi-functional dongle being connected to a portable terminal for providing a mobile banking transaction service with a banking equipment, the multi-functional dongle comprising: 
 a banking transaction unit for providing a mobile banking transaction service with a banking equipment;    an FM transmitter for outputting a sound source played in a portable terminal through a speaker of an external FM receiver;    a charger for receiving an external voltage to charge the portable terminal; and    a connector to be connected to the portable terminal simultaneously or individually for performing functions of the banking transaction unit, the FM transmitter, and the charger.    
   
   
       11 . The multi-functional dongle of  claim 10 , wherein the connector comprises one of an InterFace (IF) connector to be connected to an IF connector port of the portable terminal, an ear-microphone connector to be connected to an ear-microphone connector port of the portable terminal, and a connector to be connected to a separate port for an additional function.  
   
   
       12 . The multi-functional dongle of  claim 11 , wherein the charger comprises a power port for receiving an external power.  
   
   
       13 . The multi-functional dongle of  claim 10 , wherein the banking transaction unit comprises: 
 a processor for controlling a mobile banking transaction with the banking equipment according to a user's request;    a memory for storing information about the mobile banking transaction conducted by the processor and a corresponding application program;    a communication module for performing a wireless communication with the banking equipment for the banking transaction; and    a banking chip driver for providing an interface with a banking chip selectively installed for providing personal authentication and recent banking transaction history to the processor according to a request of the processor.    
   
   
       14 . The multi-functional dongle of  claim 13 , wherein the communication module comprises at least one of a closed-loop antenna radiator, a Bluetooth antenna radiator, and an infrared transmitter/receiver.  
   
   
       15 . The multi-functional dongle of  claim 13 , wherein when the portable terminal is connected to the dongle, the processor transmits to the portable terminal the banking transaction history to be displayed, receives a request based on a user's key input and transmits the received request to the banking equipment through the communication module.  
   
   
       16 . The multi-functional dongle of  claim 10 , wherein the FM transmitter comprises: 
 a signal detector connected to the portable terminal for receiving a sound source signal;    a stereo modulator for FM-modulating a sound signal input from the signal detector;    a signal oscillator for converting the FM-modulated sound signal into a corresponding FM radio signal according to a frequency control signal;    a frequency controller for providing the frequency control signal to the signal oscillator;    an RF amplifier for amplifying the FM radio signal provided from the signal oscillator; and    an antenna module for transmitting the amplified FM radio signal to an external FM receiver.    
   
   
       17 . The multi-functional dongle of  claim 13 , wherein the communication module of the banking transaction unit commonly uses the antenna module.  
   
   
       18 . The multi-functional dongle of  claim 12 , wherein the FM transmitter is operated by one of a power of the portable terminal and an external power.  
   
   
       19 . The multi-functional dongle of  claim 12 , wherein the charger comprises: 
 a charge controller for checking a voltage applied from an external power supply and stabilizing the applied voltage to an appropriate level; and    a voltage converter having a switch and stabilizing a power applied from an external power supply under control of the charge controller and supplying the stabilized voltage to the portable terminal through a switching operation of the switch.    
   
   
       20 . A portable terminal having a multi-functional dongle for providing a mobile banking transaction service with a banking equipment, the multi-functional dongle comprising: 
 a connector to be electrically connected to the portable terminal;    a wireless communication module installed in the dongle for communicating with the banking equipment; and    a slot port installed inside the dongle such that a banking chip is selectively attachable thereto.